BELOVED BROTHER,-
The sisters were quite right in saying I dearly love the German brethren; God's work has taken me elsewhere, but not separated my heart from those beloved ones. Heaven is my fatherland; I feel it daily more and more. But I found myself so soon at home in Germany. I am, so to speak, "in the house" in Switzerland. In France God has richly blessed me; many of the laboring brethren have studied the word with me, and with many I am most closely united. They have always had and shown me kindness of every sort. My intercourse with them has always been, thank God, full of confidence and open-hearted. I love them dearly. But nowhere do I feel more affinity than with the German brethren. We know that we are all one in Christ. Daily one feels in these last times that the Christian must be a Christian and nothing else but a Christian. The simplicity and goodwill of the German brethren won my heart from the beginning. I share your joy and your sorrows as if they were my own. I always remember your love with a heart full of gratitude. Indeed, I can say I have everywhere experienced the love of the brethren and discovered the truth of this precious privilege. I often wonder at my being the object of so much love and kindness, unworthy as I am. At any rate, this seed is sown from above in no unthankful heart.
It is good, dear brother, that we should be tested. I can say that for more than forty years I have had no other object than Christ; but I have learned that one can be careless in respect of one's own soul, even when with all faithfulness one labors for the Lord according to His will-the same power perhaps is not developed in the labor. In Thessalonians we read: "Work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope;" the springs were open, the three principles of Christianity. In Revelation: "I know thy works and labor and patience," but "thou... hast left thy first love." Oh, how often this is the case! not that at the bottom of the heart the love is grown cold, but the links between the labor and the love are weakened; a man works because the work lies before him. He loves the work, he would glorify the Savior, but his work does not flow in the same way from the fullness of the love of Christ's own heart. The soul is injured thereby. God in His love chastises us, and renews the flow of love in the heart. He sets us in His presence and speaks with us in our conscience. How full of love and patience is He! how tender with us! If He were not so, what should we do? Besides, the "I" of the heart is so deceitful. It takes account of the advantage of the work of benefiting the brethren. But in so far as it operates in us, it separates the heart from the realized presence of God. We are ever so ignorantly confident when not guided by the word of God. If I think of the Lord, and of His perfection, how He always had the right word ready, the right feeling of heart, how He always was as man before God, the wisdom of the love that was evinced in Him, I feel how poor I am in my best endeavors to serve Him. Thank God, the work is His own—by us according to His great love.
We have here in fellowship with us a brother who is a converted Indian, who knew -. He was then entirely under law, but a godly person, the brother says. He is active among the Germans, so far as he has time. The work goes on in America but slowly. The Americans do not like to receive the truth from strangers, but little by little some unite with us. The condition of the communities (churches so called) is shocking. In one of them when the supper is celebrated, people take a novel to pass the time, because the members are numerous. The choir often sing worldly songs and love songs, when the congregation supposes that sacred hymns are being sung. The Christians go to the theater, dance like the world. There is activity, liberality; but the world is immoral, the Christians worldly. Money is the god of all. It is difficult to plant God's testimony; but God is faithful and almighty to do it. I think of turning towards Europe as soon as possible when the winter is over.
Hearty greetings to the brethren. It would give me great joy to see you: I know not if it shall be permitted me. I begin to be old, and I have before me a visit to the Antilles (West Indies) if possible, but I shall see you yet again. God give you peace and joy in His precious communion, and richly bless all the brethren.
Your attached brother.
I take my share sincerely in this difficulty in D. For my part I prefer to accept no designation. If persecution arise the Lord is there.
New York,
1867.